Rail-reconditioning machine



March 17, 1931.

J. TRIMBLE RAIL RECONDITIONING MACHINE Filed nec. 11, 192e s sheets-sheet 1 El j 21 1 a I :Y 4f r 5 b q Z Z0 l a G lliblw l t l il E .7l l l, Z ffm 4.2: f 3 \l G ZZ# a l. Hu l i ll i .av l l l g T; l JZ p 1.10 y G L T. G Il I m 17;; i E 1 12 I MWA f o lo .i 1

March 17, 1931. J, TRlMBLE I 1,796,696

RAIL RECONDITIONING MACHNE Filed Dec. 1l. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fase/719 7;/777 bl( f gw WM March 17, 1931. I K 1 TmMBLE 1,796,695

RAIL RECONDITIONING MACHINE Filed Deo. ll. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Josep/l pif-"bk 51H01 nog March 17, 1931. J. rmMBLE 1,796,696

vRAUL REGONDITIONING MACHINE Filed D60- 11.1928y 5 sheets-sheet 4 8 0 Tl 46 l if l lu 47 .Hziz' "E19- in y ,/'J Z l H ift/4J 0 1 47 J f/ ,a il L f 4Z nnkoz Fig. i1 (josev 7;//77/6 March 17, 1931. v J.'TR|MBLE 1,796,696

RAIL RECONDITIONING MACHINE Filed Deo. l1. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 gan/vinto@ Patented Mar. 17, 1931 JOSEPH TRIMBLE, OF PORTLAND, OREGON RAIL-RECONDTION ING MACHINE The primary purpose and object of my'invention is for the reconditioning of relaying rails. Heretofore it has been the O'eneral custom of railroads and other users of rail- U. way track to transport the relaying rails to a central station where the rails were reconditioned, straightened, cut, and bored and then removed from the central reconditioning station and relaid where desired.

E This method necessitated an expenditure of a large amount of time and labor in the transporting of the rails to the central ren conditioning plant and in the delivering of the rails to the desired location for relaying W or piling.

l/Vhen these rails were reconditioned in a central station, the work was generally done by hand straightening machines which was a laborious task requiring a large amount of time and effort in accomplishing the results. My new and important device is portable in character, adapted for being loaded upon a truck or other portable vehicle or for use j upon a railway track. The rails to be reconditioned are run through a power driven, relatively high-speed machine and the straightening is done upon a power driven multiple speed machine. After they are straightened, drilled and cut as a simultaneous operation, the rails can then be relayed or piled as desired.

The device consists primarily of a fabricated frame, a prime mover,as a gas engine.

is mounted upon the frame, the same being adapted for driving a pump for the pumping of a motive iiuid which actuates an hydraulic ram for straightening the rail both in curva` ture and alignment, or for imparting curvature to the rail. Adjustable heads are also provided for receiving the rail to be operated upon.

A high-speed pump and a centrifugal pump are adapted for circulating and delivering a iuid from a common sump into an voperating cylinder, for actuating a ram reciprocably disposed within cylinder. Means are interposed within the circulating line to automatically shunt the fluid into the sump from the `centrifugal pump when the pres- Application filed December 11, 1928. Serial No. 325,337.

sure has reached a predetermined operating nessure. Manually manipulative means are also interposed within the circulating line for regulating the speed at which the ram is to be actuated andthe pressure to be exerted thereby.

A secondary frame is also provided upon which a saw and drill is placed for cutting the rail and drilling of the fastening holes therein as a simultaneous operation.

One of the primary objects of my device is for the rapid and economical reconditioning of rails for use as relayers.

A further object of my device is for the transporting of the device along a railway track, the passing of the rails through the device, and the relaying of the same continuonsly and thereby reconditioning the rails ofthe track with a minimum amount of labor and time consumed. 70

A still further object of my device consists in its portability, the same being adaptable to various forms of track, thereby permitting the reconditioning of the track at the point of its location, whether the same be on the main line or in piles.

lVith these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts the essential elements of which are set 8U forth in the appended claims and a preferred form of embodiment ofwhich is hereinafter shown with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the main portion of the `assembled device which includes the rail bending portion of the machine.

2 is an end elevation of the assembled device, the same being taken on line Qf-), of Fig. l, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 3 is a rear side `view of the assembled device, the same being taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 4 is a side View of the assembled device, the same being taken on line 4-4 on Fig. l, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional, side elevation of the device, the same being taken head end of the on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 6 is a front end view of the ram and the cylinder, the same being taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 7 vis a perspective front view of one of the adjustable-knees against whichxthe rail to be reconditioned is held when under pressure.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the supporting mechanism over which the rail to be reconditioned is to be transported and through the use of which the rail is raised and lowered to meet the center line of the piston, 'or ram.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary assembly view of the pipe conduit and the valves disposed within the conduit. Y

Fig. 10 is a diagraminati-cal layout of. the

.supporting rollers over which the ram is transported, illustrating the adjustable knee blocks for counteracting thel pressure of the hydraulic ram.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side view of the ram and of the knee.V rlhe rail is shown in position for straightening the same as to vertical alignment, the ball of the rail being in the shrouded roller for guiding` the rail into working position. The View is taken online 11e-11 or Fig. 10 looking inthe direction indicated.

Fig. 12 illustratesthe rail in 1position between the ram and the supporting mechanism.. jThe rail being in position for correct- 'ing 'the rail as to curvature.

Figl is a s ectionalside elevation of that portion of the device to be used in sawing and drilling to cooperate with the straightening device. y

Fig. 1l is a top plan view of the mech-anism illustrated in Fig. 13.

Like reference `characters referred to like parts throughout the several views.

I preferably form my device of a fabricated frame composed of longitudinal base members land 2 having upturned runners 8 and il disposed ateither end. The runner like base members provide supports so that the device mayA be` pulled along the groundV or track. Where the same is to be transported along the track, trunnion supports 5 and 6 are disposed at either end having supporting track Wheels 7 andV 8v journaled the-rein.v A power plant, Y or prime mover 9, as ay gas engine, 1s mounted upon the longitudinal base members 1y and2. The prime mover 9 is adapted for driving a reciprocated pump 11 through suitable driving elements as a driving chain 12 coacting with asprocket on the driving shaft 13. The

Vdriving shaft 13 carries apinion 14n-that is adapted vfor driving the primarygear 15. The primary gear 15 is mounted upon the crank shaft 1.6 with which the pistonfrods 17 ofthe lpump coact. The pump should be nmade-of sturdyconstruction foroperating a fluid under pressure of suiiicient intensity to 1econdition the rails. A secondary centrifugal pump 19 is mounted uponv a base 2O and is driven from the prime mover through a suitable driving element as a rlhe centrifugal pump is intended to speed up the hydraulic ram during the initial stages of the pressure. A discharge pipe 22 leads from the centrifugal pump 19 and conducts the fluid under pressure to a distributing valve A23. rlhe primary or reciprocating pump delivers the operating fluid from the pump to a header 24 and a distributor pipe25 conducts the fluid from the distributor head 211 to the distributor valve 23. A valve stem 25 leads from the distributor valve. The valve stem may be actuated by hand manipulation by a handle y26 at the end of the valvestem, or theV same may be actuated by foot pressure by a footlever 27 conveniently located at the operating end of the machine. rlhe foot lever 2'? is connected to the valve stem 25 through a link 28 attached toalever arm29 disposed upon the valve stem rllhe operating cylinder 30 receives the fluid under pressure through a common outlet 31 leading from the distributor valve 28 to the interior of the cylinder. A piston disposed within the cylinder is actuated by this fluid coming from the centrifugal pump 19 and from the primary pump through outlet 31 yuntil the pressure developed therein is greater than the possible load to be carried by the centrifugal pump. When such predetermined pressure is reached, the fluid is byspassed from the centrifugal pump through the pipe 33 and is delivered into the sump '34. `llhen bot-h pumps are working, the outward movement of the piston is greatlyspeeded up as both pumps deliver fluid under pressure into the cylinder. vCarried upon the piston liead'35 is a cross yoke 36. The cross yoke 36 carries rods 37 and 38.' The rods 37 and 38 have disposed thereupon resilient, compressible elements, as springs 39 and LlO. As the piston is forced outward the springs are loaded sufficiently to return the piston to normal position when the operating fluid is turned off through the actuating ofthe distributor.v valve 23. I

Two check valves are disposed within the pipes leading from the centrifugal. pump. Check valve 32 Ais set to operate. at a lower pressure than 'is the check valve 32a so that when the pressure develops within the cylin der of the ram to actuate the valve 32, the` centrifugal pump then develops an added pres? Vsure sufficient to actuate the valve 32a and the fluid being pumped from the centrifugal pump is then pumped directly into the sump Horizontally disposed rollers 41 and 42 'are disposed at opposite ends of the machines over which the element to bereconditioned are made to pass. The rollers ar'e Icarried in hinged frames L3 and 44. The ,safme are driving chain 21. Y

adapted to being raised and lowered by hand adjusting wheels. A secondary horizontal spindle 45 is disposed upon one end of the machine upon which a shrouded roller 46 is positioned. The ball 47 of the rail being passed within the flanges forming the shrouds of the roller 46 maintains the rail in alignment. Adjustable knees 48 and 49 are positioned upon the frame of the machine against which the base 50 of the rail is made to engage, as illust-rated in Fig. l0. The point 5l of the piston head 35 engages the oppositely disposed side of the rail and straightens or imparts curvature thereto.

A strong back 52 is disposed at the rear of the knees 48 and 49 and against which the same are permitted to rest; a tension bolt 53 connecting the strong back 52 with the cylinder. The whole press assembly is mounted upon cross beams 10 which are mounted upon the base members l and 2.

After the rail has been reconditioned, so far as curvature and alignment is concerned the same is then passed to the sawing and drilling attachment which consists primarily of a frame 54. A prime mover 55, as an electric motor, is disposed within the frame. The electric motor drives a hacksaw head 56 for cutting the rail 57. During the sawing of the rail 57', a motor 58 has connected therewith a drill 6l which drills the fastening holes in the rail. The motor 58 is mounted upon a rotatable supporting head 59 and may be raised or lowered by the rotating of the cam shaft 60 thereby raising or lowering the 'drill 6l adapted for being driven by the prime mover 58, thus as the rail is being sawed, the same may be drilled. A reciprocating movement is imparted to the drilling machine relative to the supporting head through screw feed 62. The drilling machine and head are lowered by a rotation of the hand adjusting screw 66. The rail is clamped within clamping jaws 64 and 65. The clamp jaws pre adjusted by hand fed lwheels 66 and 6 An electric generator 68 is adapted for being driven by the prime mover 9 through the driving elements 69. The purpose of the electric generator is for generating power to drive the electric motors 55 and 58 and for furnishing lights to the machine, when the same is being used where electric lights are not available.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to conline the invention to the one form of embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What I claim is:

l. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a fabricated frame, longitudinal runners comprising the base members of the frame, trunnion wheels removably secured to the underside of the base members, a power unit disposed upon the frame, a sump tank for holding an operating fluid and a plurality of pumps adapted for pumping an operating fluid through a hydraulic cylinder and back into the sump tank in a closed cycle, a distributor valve disposed within the circuit of the fluid, selective means for manually manipulating the valve and a bypass leading from one of the pumps to the sump tankwithout the pumped medium passing through the distributor valve and a valve disposed within the line running from' the said pump to the distributor valve for automatically shunting the fluid being pumped when a predetermined pressure is reached within the closed circuit of the fluid being pumped.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a fabricated frame, longitudinal members having upturned ends comprising the base, trunnioned wheels removably secured to the base and downwardly ei;- tending therefrom, to adapt the frame to be transported over a railway track, power driven pumping elements disposed upon the frame, a hydraulic ram adapted for being manipulated by the pumping units, and automatic means for rendering one of the pumps ineffective when a predetermined pressure is reached.

3. In a device of the combination of a frame, power driven pump ing units disposed upon the frame, one of the pumps adapted for pumping a fluid at a higher velocity than the other of the pumps, a sump disposed upon the conduit extending from the sump through the pumps and through a hydraulic ram back to the sump, valves disposed within the piping system and automatic means for rendering one of the pumps ineffective when a predeter- Y mined pressure has been reached in the fluid being pumped.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame, supporting elements for the frame, carried by the frame, one of said pumping units being a reciprocating pump and the other of the units being a centrifugal pump, a hydraulic ram adapted for being actuated by a fluid being units, means for maintaining the piston of the ram normally repressed, and means for rendering one of the pumps ineffective when a predetermined pressure is reached in the operating fluid.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame, a power actuated hydraulic ram disposed upon the frame, supporting rollers hingedly secured to the frame, means for raising and lowering the rollclass described, the

frame, a piping power driven pumping units pumped by the pumping 3 ers to adapt the same for horizontal alignment relative to the center of the ram, a secondary roller hingedlysecured to the frame and mounted upon a spindle, disposed paral- 5 lel to the rollers, said rollers slidably disposed upon the spindle, adjustable knees secured to the frame, a strong back disposed at the rear of the knees and a tension member connecting the strong back and the hydraulic ram.

10 6. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a frame, a power actuated piston reciprocably disposed Within a cylinder means for maintaining the piston normally repressed relative to the cylinder, means for 15 imparting tivo speeds to the piston when out-- Wardly actuated, automatic means 'for rendering ineffective one of the speeds when a predetermined pressure is developed by the piston, adjustable rollers Jfor supporting rails in 2a alignment With the piston, knees against which the rail to be conditioned is placed by the piston, a strong back bar vfor maintaining the 'knees in placement and a tension rod connecting the strong back With the cylinder of the ram.

7. in a device of the class described, the combination of a `frame, longitudinal runners comprising the base members of the frame, supporting beams transversely disposed upon io the runners, a multiple speed hydraulically operated ram disposed upon the beams, a

strong back secured to the frame and in spaced relationship with the ram, adjustable kneesl disposed upon the strong back, means for simultaneously'transporting, raising or lowering the rail and keeping it in precise alignment as it comes Within the operating field of the ram, power means for supplying pressure to the ram, and selective means for 40 actuating the pressure supplying means. l

JOSEPH TRIMBLE. 

